Automatic control for wave forms



B. E. DENTON AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WAVE FORMS Nov. 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1949 Nov. 13, 1951 B. E.-D ENTON AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WAVE FORMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1949 3. oziowduo B. fmz'd' Nov. 13, 1951 B. E. DENTON AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WAVE FORMS 3 SheetsSheei 3 Filed A ril 1, 1949 AAAAAA AMA vvvvvv AMMMB'IFZEZZ Patented Nov. 13, 1951 AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR WAVE FORMS Bethel Edward Denton, Merchantville, N. J assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application April 1, 1949, Serial No. 84,836

9 Claims. I.

The present invention relates to systems for maintaining a desired wave form of a wave applied to the deflection of the cathode ray beam in a cathode ray tube, and, more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to novel automatic control systems which function to maintain the desired wave form of high frequency deflection wave. The system of the present invention is applicable generally tov producing sinusoidal or other wave shapes, but it is especially applicable to high frequency television deflection circuits. A television deflection circuit embodying the invention will automatically provide control of the linearity of the deflection wave.

The principal object of the present invention is to obtain a wave form restoring effect in a novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel system for employing a differential signal which is efiective in accordance with the invention for maintaining the desired wave form of an output signal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement for automatically maintaining the wave form of the deflection wave in a reactance controlled deflection circuit associated with a cathode ray tube.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will, of course, become apparent and immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention is directed from a reading of the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows, diagrammatically, cathode ray beam deflecting apparatus embodying the invention in one form.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show wave forms to be referred to hereinafter in the description of apparatus embodying the invention and, more particularly, the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic showing of another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic showing of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring for the present to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown, by way of example, a deflection circuit for deflecting the cathode ray beam of a cathode ray tube (not shown) along one axis, for example, the horizontal axis. Another similar deflection circuit (not shown) may be emple as a convenient setting for the present invention, although the invention is not limited in use to circuits of this type, comprises a discharge tube "3-, a cathode follower tube II, a power tube [2, and deflection coils 6. The coils It may be incorporated in a deflection yoke for use with a cathode ray tube (neither shown).

The grid l8 of the discharge tube [0 is connected through any suitable coupling means to a source (not shown) of sharp pulses 2| of positive polarity. This source of pulses may be a blocking oscillator as shown in either of the T01- son patents mentioned above.

The anode 22 of the discharge tube I0 is connected through a charging resistor 24 toa suitable source of positive voltage (not shown) as indicated schematically at 26. The voltage supply source may be the usual B supply source generally associated with electronic equipment. Resistor 24 may be variable if desired to provide control for the deflection amplitude.

A condenser 29 is charged in series with the resistor 24 from the connection 26 and, during this period, the tube I0 is substantially biased to cut off. A sawtooth voltage will appear across the condenser 29 since this condenser is discharged periodically by the tube H] on the occurrence of a pulse 2|. The developed voltage wave is shown conventionally and is designated by reference character 3|.

The voltage wave 3| developed, as a result of the operation of the tube I0, is applied through a coupling condenser 43 to the grid 44 of the cathode follower tube H. The grid resistor 46 for the tube H is returned to the adjustable contact 48 of a potentiometer 41. This potentiometer may be used to adjust the operating level of the grid 44 of tube ll and thus its cathode 53, thereby controlling the drive on element 58 of tube l2. The resistor of the potentiometer is connected in series with a second resistor 48, this series combination being connected between a negative bias source (not shown), as indicated schematically at 5| and ground. The anode 52 of the tube H is, or may be, directly connected to the source of positive potential indicated sche-' matically at 26. As mentioned above, the tube H is connected as a cathode follower and its cathode 53 is connected to the negative potential source, as indicated at 5| through a cathode resistor 56. The control grid 58 of the power tube I 2 is directly connected to the cathode 53 of the tube l I so that the sawtooth voltage 3i is applied to the grid 58' in a positive direction from a low impedance source which permits driving control grid 58 into grid current.

The tube I2 is a power tube and is preferably a pentode, as shown, and it serves to drive a sawtooth of current through the deflection coils l6 when the voltage wave form3l is applied to the grid employed by including a pulse component in ,a

well-known manner. The anode BI of the power tube I2 is connected through the. deflectioncoil I and a resistor 62 to the source .of positive potential indicated at reference character-EJ A" diode damper tube 64 is connected'effectivelyin' series with triode H across the horizontal deflection coil IS with its cathode 66 con'nectedto the anode of tube I2 and to the coils It. 'I'hedamperv through the tube II for 'a purpose hereinafter to be described, and the-anodes I2 and I3 of the tube are connectedtothesource of positive potential as indicated-at 2B. 'If'the cathode of triode 'II is designed to' operatewith the-pulse developed during retrace time the diode 64 maybe omitted from the circuit. Under this condition the triode ll performs both the functions of control and dar'nping- A'circuit employing a damper tube is disclosed in U. S.,Reissue Patent No. Re. 21,400, granted March 19, 1940. A complete discussion of magnetic deflection will be found in the RCA Review for September 1947', beginning at page 506. The manner in which the tube H functions;in accordance with the present invention to correct the wave form of the deflection will be described hereinafter in detail.

The cathode 18' of the tube ID is returned to ground throughacathode resistor BI, which is shunted by a condenser '82." The *resistor 8| serves as a potentiometer resistor, and the movable contact 84 of the-potentiometer provides a connection for obtaining a sawtooth of voltage of desired amplitude indicatedconventionallyat 86, which is reversed in phase with respect to the sawtooth 3|. A wave comparison or mixer tube 88 serves to compare this-sawtooth of voltage with the sawtooth voltage which is obtained from the resistor 62 and is, thereforejan indication of the wave form of the deflection current in the deflection coils I6 so thatthe tube 88iwil1 function as a wave comparison tube. The wave'86 is applied over a conductor 9| to its grid 93. The wave form of voltage shown conventionally at 94 is applied from the resistor 62 to the cathode 96 of the tubeBS byway of a coupling condenser 98. The anode IiIII"v of the tube 88 is connected through a resistor, I I14 to ,thejsource of positive potential indicated schematically at 26. The cathode 9i5'of the tube'88'is connectedfto a reference point in the circuit, such "as ground, through resistor I06. H

The cathode of the tube 88, being in .phase with the grid,allows plate current flow according to differences in the respective slope of the original or standard signal BG and the comparison signal 94. The signal 86 and the signal 94 subtract in the plate currentof the tube88, givingrise to a differential signal Ifl8,.which is shown con-'- ventionally in Fig. 4. The signal I08 is the result of a change in plate current when there. is'a difference between the wave form 86 and the wave form 94. The difierencesignal at IUI of the tube 88 will, in general, possess a component of sawtooth in addition .to the correction com ponent. V

A tube III receives the differential signal I08 on its Signal grid H2 by way of a coupling condenser iI l. A grid resistor H8 is provided for -tube circuit is completed from its anode"'68" the signal grid m; The plate 119 of the tube I I I is connected, for example, to the same source of positive high potential as is indicated at reference character 26 through a load resistor I2I. The output from the tube III which appears across the load resistor I2I is connected by way of a coupling condenser I22 to the grids I23 of the previously mentioned tube 'II. 1 understood at thispoint that a single tube may It will be be used as indicated at reference character 'II having suitable characteristics. However, where largeLcurrent passing capacity is required a dual tube with separate sections connected efiectively .in'parallel, as shown, may be employed. The

grids I23 of the tube 1| are connected to the slide 126' operating on a potentiometer resistor I28. The resistor I28 is connected between ground and the positive potential 'sorirc'eindicated at 26 in series withfa-resistor I29. l Po tentiometers 84 and I26 provide means of jointly controlling the linearity of trace.

In the embodiment'of Fig. 1 of the drawings, any change in current distribution through the deflection coils I6 will result in a corresponding change in the wave form 94 (also shown 3). This Will change the wave form of the de vcloped comparison wave I08(Fig..4). The signal I08 is amplified by the tube III and is applied to the grids of the tube 'II, causing the impedance of this tube to vary in such a manner as to maintain the proper voltage for-linear defiection across the yoke. ode II begins to conduct at the end of the retrace tame after the resonant circuit, of which the coils I6 are a part, has executed a half cycle'of what would otherwise be; a decaying oscillation.

The diode 64 and triode II will normally conduct ance with this aspect of the invention, the re-'' sult is attained through the application of a dual control. The embodiment of Fig. 5 functionsin the same manner as that of Fig. l, explained above, and, in addition, a correction signal is appliedin parallel with the power tube which serves as an output tube or a driver for deflection yoke current. The correction signal which is applied in parallel with the driver tube in this embodiment in'the invention does not alter the initial or left-hand half of the trace as the driver or 'power output tube and.correction tube are placed beyond cutofi during this portion of the trace. Inasmuch as a large part of the arrangement of Fig. 5 is similar to that of Fig. 1, like components will be given the same reference char-; acters with the suflix :1 added. I

The discharge tube Illa, the amplifier Ila, and the power output or driver tube I 2a are associated together by circuits which are the same asor similar to those shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The deflection coil IGa, diode 64a, and thecon trol tube Ha perform in somewhat the same manner as has been explained in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawings. The control tube 'Haoperates in the manner described above under cont fql Qfi the mixer tube 88a and the amplifier tube The diode 64 and tiicathode I56.

- g for a cathode ray tube.

TI Ia. Since the power output or driver tube I 2a conducts during thelatter portion of the trace, the shape of its plate current curve has a direct bearing on the latter or right-hand portion of the trace. In order that control may be exercised, a control tube I49 is connected effectively in parallel with the power or driver tube I211. The signal grid I5I of the control tube I49 is connected by way of a coupling condenser I52 to the output from the second section of a dual triode tube I54. It will be understood that a dual type tube is shown for the sake of convenience of illustration and that separate tubes may be used. One section of this tube serves as an electronicmixer-amplifier and the other as an amplifier'stage. The functions performed being very similar to those of 88 and III of Fig. 1 and 88a 'and IIIa of Fig. 5. The sawtooth Wave of voltage which is derived across the resistor 62a. is applied through a coupling condenser 98a to the This sawtooth of voltage is indicated conventionally by reference character 94a. A properly formed reference sawtooth shown conventionally at I58 is derived from a. suitable source .(not shown) for comparison in the lefthand section of the tube I54 with wave 94a to derive a control signal which may be generally of the form shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This diiferential comparison signal is applied through a coupling condenser I59 to the grid I6I of the right-hand half of the tube I54. It is this amplified comparison signal which is applied by way of a coupling condenser I52 to the grid I5I of 7 the tube I49.

7 When the wave forms 94a and I58 are identical in form, but different in amplitude, the plate current of the left-hand half of the tube I54 will change at a linear rate. If the wave form shown conventionally, as indicated by the reference character 94a, changes with respect to the wave form I58, the potential applied to the grid of the tube I49 will shift in such a way as to alter the rate of change of the conductivity of this tube thus effecting correction for the distortion. This will not alter the left-hand portion ofthe trace as the tubes I2 and I49 are biased beyond cutofi during this time.

Fig; 6 of the'drawing shows a further embodiment of the invention. Referring now to Fig. 6 of the" drawing the tube I6I corresponds in function to the tube I8 of Fig. 1. This tube, the plate circuit of which includes a resistor I62 generates a sawtooth of voltage I64 by the charge and discharge'cycle of a condenser I66. The sawtooth of voltage I 64 is applied through a coupling condenser I68 to the grid of a tube I69 which serves as a cathode follower amplifier in the same manner as the tube II of Fig. 1. The anode III of a power output tube I72 is connected through the secondary 'I I4 of a deflection transformer I I6 to a suitable source (not shown) of positive potential as indicated schematically at I". The secondary I19 of this transformer is connected across a set of deflection coils I82 which may be part or all of the horizontal deflecting yoke structure It will be understood that a centering device maybe included in the deflection coil circuit as'so desired. A resistor I83 is in series with the current path to the deflection coils I82 and, therefore, a voltage wave is developed across this resistor. One end of this resistoris connected to ground to provide a ground return for the control circuit to be described.

The cathode I86 of the tube I6I is connected to one end of a resistor I88 by way of a conductor I89. The remaining end of the resistor I88 is connected by way of a conductor I9I to the ungrounded end of the resistor I 83. A sawtooth of voltage I92, reversed in phase with respect to the voltage wave I64, is derived from the cathode I86 from the tube I6I. A sawtooth of voltage I94 reversed in phase with respect to the wave I82 is derived from the yoke current flowing through the resistor I83. If these waves I92 and I94 are similar and equal, the potential at some point along a resistor, for example at its elec trical center, will remain substantially fixed. The resistor I88 serves as a potentiometer and the potentiometer slider I96 is connected to the grid I98 of the one section of the dual tube 20I. If the wave form shown conventionally is indicated by the reference character I94, change with respect to the wave form I92, appearing at the cathode I86 of the tube I6I, the potential applied to the grid I 98 of the left-handtube section 28I will be changed. The potentiometer I96 may, therefore, be used to change the amplitude of the signal reaching the grid I98 of 20I and thus serve as a linearity control.

The right hand section of the tube 2IlI amplifies potential diiferences arising as a result of the comparison wave shape I94 at the wave shape I92, coupling between the tube sections being accomplished by coupling condenser 282. The output from the right-hand section of the tube 20I is connected through a coupling condenser 284 to the grids 206 of the tube 208. The tube 268 serves as a damper tube which starts to conduct at the end of the retrace time. The current flowing through this tube at the beginning of trace is the result of energy stirred in the yoke and transformed at the end of retrace. The current flowing through the tube and yoke bear a definite relation. Thus by controlling the current flowing through 208 by the application of a control signal to its grid, control of linearity of the lefthand side of the screen is achieved. This current has the desired corrected sawtooth wave shape with correct linearity.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for maintaining a desired wave form comprising an electric wave source, utilization apparatus operating under control of said wave, an. electronic tube having at least a cathode, an anode and a control electrode, an anode circuit for said anode, means for coupling said anode circuit to said utilization device, a wave comparison device, means for applying an electric wave from a source of waves of standard wave form to said comparison device, means for applying a wave from said utilization apparatus to said comparison device eifectively in opposite phase relationship to the wave applied from said wave source, said comparison device having means for deriving a differential effect, means for applying said differential effect to the anode circuit of said tube, a branch circuit for said utili'zation apparatus, a second wave comparison device, means for applying an electric wave from said source to said second comparison device,

means for applying a wave from said utilization circuit to said second comparison device in opposite phase relationship to. the wave applied from said wave source, said second comparison device having means for deriving a diiferental effect, and means for applying said differential effect to said branch circuit.

2. A deflection system for deflecting the oathode ray beam of a cathode ray tube comprising a sawtooth wave generator, a deflection coil, a damper tube for said coil, a driver tube controlled by said generator for driving a beam deflecting current through said coil, means for'coupling said tube to said coil, a wave comparison device comprising electronic tube means, a pair of elec trodes associated with said tube means, each electrode being effective to control current flow through said tube means, means for applyingan electric wave from said sawtooth wave generator to one of said electrodes, means for obtaining a voltage wave representation of the current wave in said'coil, means for applying the obtained voltage wave to the other of said electrodes, said com parison device having means for supplying .a differential effect, and means for applying said differential effect to said damper tube.

3. A deflection system for deflecting the cathode ray beam of a cathode ray tube comprising a sawtooth wave generator, a deflection coil, a control tube in the deflection coil circuit, a driver tube controlled by said generator for driving a beam deflecting current through said coil, means for coupling said tube to said coil, awavecomparison device comprising an electronic tube, a control electrode for said tube, meansincluding a resistor for applying an electric wave from said sawtooth wave generator to said control elec-.- trode, aconnection 'fromsaid coil to saidresistor for applying a voltage wave representing. the cur rent wave in said coil to said control electrode in opposite phase relationship to the Wave applied from said wave generator, said comparisondevice having means for supplying a differential effect, and means for applying said, differential effect to said control tube. f v

4. A deflection system for deflecting the oathode ray beam of a cathode ray tube comprising a sawtooth wave generator, a deflection coil, a driver tube controlled by said generator for driv ing a beam deflecting current through said coil, means for coupling the output circuit of said tube to said coil, a control damper tube having a control electrode connected across said coil, a wave comparison device comprising an electronic tube, a control electrode for said tube, means including a resistor for applying an electric wave from said sawtooth wave generator to said control elec trode, a connection from said coil to said resistor for applying a voltage wave representing the current wave in said coil to said control "electrode in opposite phase relationship to the'w'ave 'applied from said wave generator, said comparison device having means for supplying a differential effect, and a connection to the control electrode of said damper control tube from said Wave comparison device. I

5. A system for maintaining a desiredwave form comprising an electric wave source, 'a utilization circuit for said wave, a control circuit for said utilization circuit comprising a tube effectively in parallel'with said utilization circuit, a wave comparison device, means for applying an electric wave from said Wave source to said com:- parison device, means for applying a wave from said utilization circuit to said comparison device in the same phase relationship to the wave applied from said wave source, said comparison device having means for deriving a differential effect, and means for applying said differential effect to the tube in said control circuit'to offset a departure in the wave formappearing in said utilizationdevice from the wave form-supplied by said electric wave source.

6. The system of claim 5: wherein said control circuit also comprises a unilaterally conducting device in series with said tube.

'7. A system for maintaining a desired wave form comprising an electric Wave source, an inductive utilization circuit comprising'a highly inductive coil for said wave comprising a damper circuitfor said coil comprising a tube having a. control electrode, a wave" comparison device, means for applying an electric wave from said Wave source to said comparison device, means for applying a wave from said utilization circuit to said comparison device effectively in opposite phase relationship to the wave applied from said wave' source, said comparison device having means for deriving a, differential effect, and means for applying said differential effect to the control electrode of said tube to offset a departure in the 'wave form appearing in said utilization device from the wave form supplied by said'electric wave source.

. 8. A deflection system for deflecting the cathode ray'beam of a cathode ray tube comprising a sawtooth wave generator, a deflection coilfa driver tube controlled by said generator for-driving a beam deflecting current through said coil, a transformer coupling said deflection 'coil to said driver tube, a damper tube for said coil, a wave comparison device comprising electronic tube meanshaving a control electrode, means for applying an'electric Wave from said sawtooth wave generator to one end of a resistor, mea'ns' for obtaining a voltage wave representation of the the current wave in said coil, means for applying the obtained voltagevvave'to the other end of 'said' resistor, a connection from a pointpn said resistor to said control electrode, and'means for coupling said electronic tube means to said damper tube.

' 9. A deflection system for deflecting the bath ode ray beam of a cathode ray tube comprising a sawtooth wave generator, a deflection coil, a damper tube for said coiL'a driver tube for driv ing a beam deflecting current through said coil, a cathode follower amplifier for coupling said sawtooth Wave generator to said driver tube,

means for coupling said tube to'said coil, a wave comparison device comprising electronic tube means, a pair of electrodes associated with said tube means, each electrode being effective to control current flow through said tube means, means :forapplying an electric wave from said sawtooth Wavegenerator to one of said electrodes, means for obtaining a voltage wave representation of r the current wave in said coil, means for 'apply ing the obtained voltage wave to the other of said electrodes, andcomparison device having means for supplying a differential effect, and means for applying said differential effect to said damper .tube.

B. EDWARD DENTON.

REFERENCES. CITED The following refe'rences are of record in the file .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name Date ,2,280','733 Tolson Apr. 21, 1942 2,280,990 I White Apr. 28, 1942 2,440,786 I Schade May '4, 1948 2,466,537 De Vore Apr. ,5, 1949 

